Top of the world, 1953

February 28, 2002

ON MAY 29, 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary became the first person to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. He described the event to James Clash, a columnist for Forbes Global:

"Well, I think my major feeling was not one of exultation. I didn't jump around and throw my hands up or anything like that. My feeling was much more one of considerable satisfaction, because people had tried before, without success, and we'd worked pretty hard at it. Here, finally, Tenzing [Norgay, his Nepali Sherpa climbing partner] and I were standing on top of the world. It was a pretty good feeling, actually. But sort of subdued. I was still very much aware that we had to get safely down again. Tenzing was, too.

"I put my hand out to shake with Tenzing in a rather typical old Anglo-Saxon way, but that wasn't enough for him. He threw his arms around my shoulders and gave me a hug."